This month’s Inspiring Mom is self-professed “Junk Artist” Marci Wease.
While she is a forensic DNA analyst by day she is also a picker on the side. What she does with what most would consider junk is nothing short of amazing.
Before I get into the interview let me start by explaining how we met in the first place.
Back in August my family and I were camping in Indiana. While hanging out near the playground area with the kids I spotted a little boy driving a miniature VW bus pulling a tiny trailer.
This boy and his bus couldn’t have been any cuter. Being totally enamored with the whole setup I started up a conversation with the boy’s grandpa as my kids enthusiastically checked out the sweet ride.
The grandpa said they were in town for the vintage camper rally and told me all about their vintage campers and old VW buses. “You should meet my daughter! She’s the one who crafted all of these things and she would love to talk with you.”
The next day I wandered over to their lot on the campgrounds. It’s easy to find. Just look for the Volkswagen Beetles and buses!
As soon as I stepped foot into their temporary space I was in awe. Everywhere I looked there were handcrafted pieces. It was like a entering a whimsical world where every single detail of the colorful rusty art had a story of its own.
That’s when I met the artist behind all the “Junk”, Marci Wease.
Marci grew up with creative and resourceful parents so it is no wonder that she has such a knack for renovation. In her home, you used what you had. Why replace when you can recreate? Marci watched her mom who could make fabulous creations out of what seemed worthless. Whether it was a meal, or clothing, or making the house looke great, she could always pull it off using what was available to her. Her dad on the other hand, could make anything that was broken down run. Marci says “With the combination of the two of them my brother and I didn’t stand a chance. We were sure to become junk collectors and pickers” It was thanks to her parents that Marci and her brother had so much access to the materials and machines that allowed them to make creations of their own. Marci has heartwarming memories of long weekends working in the shop. Every Sunday the routine was go to church, followed by a nap, dinner, and somewhere in there was always family time building! They even literally built a home together.
It wasn’t separated into boys in the garage and women in the kitchen either. Both of them were welcome to observe and get their hands dirty whatever the task may be.
At one point Marci’s uncle who had been in the military was stationed in Germany and was a Volkswagen mechanic. When he came back he opened a shop and that’s when it became a family affair. Marci and her brother got their first Volkswagens to work on before they were even old enough to drive. She has owned several since then and is currently working on a 1958 pressed bumper panel VW bus.
While always interested in the craft of tinkering. Marci took it up a notch 8 years ago when she learned to weld. Her work has since caught the attention of many locals and even people around the world thanks to her Youtube channel “marcijunebug”
She travels a little doing art festivals and trade shows. Marci said there are always men coming up to her asking who did your welding? She loves seeing their priceless expressions when she tells them she did it herself.
Marci is grateful to her parents for the values and direction her parents gave her. She said they never once said “that’s a stupid idea”. Instead if you showed up where they were tinkering they would instruct. Marci and her husband are trying to incorporate that same parenting style with their four year old son.
Her little boy came to her with a set of plans the other day saying he wanted to build a house. It looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Marci admits it’s a challenge to finding the balance between work, and having time to yourself, and family time, but she is intentional about trying to include her son in whatever she is doing when it’s possible.
With such a creative heritage it will be really neat to see what their sweet boy comes up with as he is growing and finding his path.
As I look through some of Marci’s creations like this
and this
and all of this
my mind is enchanted by the textures and layers of the things she comes up with. She attributes all that she does to God and thanks him for giving this gift to her. Her faith is evident in what she does as she takes these broken discarded pieces and turns into a valued and cherished work of art.
There is so much more that I can’t load all the photos and videos on here, but I strongly encourage you to see for yourself.
You can find more of her work on Instagram at junkinthistruck
Facebook at Junebug’s
Her website JUNEBUG’S-JUNKINTHISTRUCK
and Youtube
Be sure to follow so that you can also this cool little family does next.
I’m sure whatever it is will be INSPIRING!
Thanks for your well-written article featuring Marci. As her Mom, she was – and is – always pushing me to learn more, to be more. I am still pretty amazed at what my children have accomplished and am thankful and humbled God chose me to be their mom. Thanks again.
She had nothing but wonderful things to say about you! I know she attributes so much of her creativity to what you and your husband did as parents and I am encouraged to follow that model with my kids as well.
Well a great story about Marci, I followed her for about 2 years on her youtube channel. And became fascinated by her work with Pickles and the Yunk Art she shapes. As an artist myself. did I admire her creative mind and Determination to fulfil whatever she lay her hands on?. So I wish Marci all the best and are still following her on her youtube channel.
greetings from Hubertus C Schaper. also known on youtube as HCS